Rafah, Gaza
A woman without a travel permit walks through an underground tunnel between Gaza and Egypt on her way to a party, holding a bouquet of flowers. In the latter half of the year, the new Egyptian military government began closing these secret tunnels, which for many Gaza residents were a main passage in and out of the enclave.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Rafah, Gaza
A woman without a travel permit walks through an underground tunnel between Gaza and Egypt on her way to a party, holding a bouquet of flowers. In the latter half of the year, the new Egyptian military government began closing these secret tunnels, which for many Gaza residents were a main passage in and out of the enclave.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Abu Dis, West Bank
Women from the Al-Quds University practice team wrap up the last practice before the summer vacation, alongside the Israeli-built separation barrier.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Abu Dis, West Bank
Women from the Al-Quds University practice team wrap up the last practice before the summer vacation, alongside the Israeli-built separation barrier.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Hizma, West Bank
A youth from Hebron takes a swim in the Ein Farah nature reserve.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Hizma, West Bank
A youth from Hebron takes a swim in the Ein Farah nature reserve.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Zatara, West Bank
Having recently taken a yoga lesson from an American instructor, Hyatt (left) passes her knowledge on to other residents of her village.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Zatara, West Bank
Having recently taken a yoga lesson from an American instructor, Hyatt (left) passes her knowledge on to other residents of her village.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Ramallah, West Bank
A man bringing home a sheep for the Eid feast smokes a cigarette, as traffic finally clears at the Kalandia checkpoint.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Ramallah, West Bank
A man bringing home a sheep for the Eid feast smokes a cigarette, as traffic finally clears at the Kalandia checkpoint.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Deir al-Balah , Gaza
A girl plays on a beach near the Deir al-Balah refugee camp, in a party dress she wore to wedding celebrations the night before.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Deir al-Balah , Gaza
A girl plays on a beach near the Deir al-Balah refugee camp, in a party dress she wore to wedding celebrations the night before.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Ramallah, West Bank
Students try on dresses for a school dance.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Ramallah, West Bank
Students try on dresses for a school dance.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Rafah, Gaza
A woman plays with two lion cubs, born in the Rafah Zoo. Gazan zookeepers are renowned for their creativity under difficult circumstances, having famously once painted a donkey as a zebra, and also smuggled animals in through secret tunnels, and stuffed them once they were dead, as they were not easy to replace.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Rafah, Gaza
A woman plays with two lion cubs, born in the Rafah Zoo. Gazan zookeepers are renowned for their creativity under difficult circumstances, having famously once painted a donkey as a zebra, and also smuggled animals in through secret tunnels, and stuffed them once they were dead, as they were not easy to replace.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Gaza City, Gaza
A toy-store van drives along Gaza’s coastal highway.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Gaza City, Gaza
A toy-store van drives along Gaza’s coastal highway.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Gaza City, Gaza
Bodybuilders strike poses after a workout.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Gaza City, Gaza
Bodybuilders strike poses after a workout.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Hizma, West Bank
Furniture makers take time out in armchairs of their own creation, beside the Israeli-built separation barrier.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Hizma, West Bank
Furniture makers take time out in armchairs of their own creation, beside the Israeli-built separation barrier.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Silwan neighborhood, East Jerusalem
Khalid Zir and his five daughters take a break in the ruins of their demolished home.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Silwan neighborhood, East Jerusalem
Khalid Zir and his five daughters take a break in the ruins of their demolished home.
More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Occupied Pleasures

Daily Life, second prize stories

Rafah, Gaza

A woman without a travel permit walks through an underground tunnel between Gaza and Egypt on her way to a party, holding a bouquet of flowers. In the latter half of the year, the new Egyptian military government began closing these secret tunnels, which for many Gaza residents were a main passage in and out of the enclave.

More than four million people live in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often in overcrowded or deprived conditions. People’s movements are circumscribed and the threat of violence never quite goes away. Yet although the challenges of conflict and occupation overhang everyday life, people are not solely focused on the difficulties of survival.

Tanya Habjouqa

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About the photographer

Tanya Habjouqa

Tanya Habjouqa was born in Jordan and educated in the United States, receiving her masters in Global Media and Middle East Politics from the University of London SOAS. Beginning her career in Texas, she documented Mexican migrant communities and urban poverty before returning to the Middle East.
Tanya is known for gaining unique access to sensitive gender, social, and human rights stories in the Middle East. She is a freelance photographer, features writer, and a founding member of the Rawiya photo collective (founded by five female photographers from across the Middle East).
She is a recipient of the Magnum Foundation 2013 Emergency Fund for her project ‘Occupied Pleasures’ and a finalist for the 2014 Fotoevidence Book Award..
Habjouqa has worked on the front lines in Iraq, Lebanon, Darfur, and Gaza. Her series ‘Women of Gaza’ is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Based in East Jerusalem, she is working on personal projects that explore socio-political dynamics, identity politics, occupation, and subcultures of the Levant.

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